An aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge or weakening of an arterial wall. The bulge can collect blood that can cause the aneurysm to grow and become progressively thinner and weaker until eventually the blood pressure within the artery will cause the aneurysm to burst or leak blood internally. If this happens, immediate emergency medical attention is required in order to stop the bleed as soon as possible and prevent serious complications.
Recovering from a ruptured aneurysm will be different depending on which type of aneurysm you experienced. The most common aneurysms are brain and abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Recovering from a Brain Aneurysm
Brain aneurysms form on the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain. Treatment for a ruptured brain aneurysm usually includes surgery either to close off the aneurysm using a metal clip (surgical clipping) or to seal the aneurysm internally using an endovascular route (endovascular coiling).
Both of these procedures come with risks, including bleeding in the brain or loss of blood flow to the brain. Although endovascular coiling is a less invasive procedure that doesn’t pose as many risks during the procedure, it also has a higher risk of re-bleeding which would require additional procedures.
If the ruptured aneurysm causes damage to your brain, you may need physical, speech, or occupational therapy to relearn certain skills. Depending on which deficits were incurred, the recovery process can be long and may take months or even years to regain some functions.
Recovering from an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysms form on the aorta, which is a major blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to all of your vital organs. If this type of aneurysm ruptures, it can cause severe internal bleeding that can lead to death if not treated immediately.
Treatment to repair a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm will typically include either open-abdominal surgery to remove the damaged section of the aorta and replace it with a synthetic graft tube, or endovascular surgery that involves using a catheter to place a graft at the site of the aneurysm to reinforce the weakened artery.
Endovascular repair is less invasive than open-abdominal surgery, but it is also more likely to leak and require further treatment. Open-abdominal surgery will generally take two to three months to fully recover from and you also will probably be required to take special measures during your recovery to ensure it is successful. This could include:
- Using a urinary catheter
- Using a tube to help drain fluids for a few days after surgery
- Taking blood thinning medications
- Wearing special stockings to prevent blood clots from forming in your legs
- Using a breathing machine to help clear your lungs
- Taking pain relieving medications
You will also probably need to attend follow-up ultrasounds every six months for a year and then once a year after that to ensure that the aneurysm doesn’t begin leaking again. Even though the recovery process can be long, the long-term outlook for treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms is generally very positive.
